Machine for scoring ice



March 9 1926. 1,575,794

R. H. ROARK MACHINE FOR SCORING ICE Filed Nov. 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOF "JEY March '9 1926.

R. H. ROARK MACHINE FOR SCORING ICE 3 Sheets-She't Filed Nov. 29, 1924 affix/$0233 I n MM M M g WITNESSES ATTORNEY R. H. ROARK MACHINE FOR SCORING ICE.

Filed Nov. 29, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet :3

March 9 R? Q Q WITNESSES 2107. 77 M ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES ROBERT H. BOARKQOF WACO, TEXAS.

MACHINE FOR SCORING ICE.

application filed November 29, 1924. Serial No. isasos.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronurur H. RoARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at aco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Machine for Scoring Ice, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for scoring blocks of ice, so as to insure the accurate cutting thereof into predetermined sizes for the retail trade.

The general object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of this type, improved means for supporting and operating the saws in conjunction with the block of ice, whereby the same is rendered simpler and more practical, and may be installed with less trouble. In machines of this type, as heretofore constructed, the vertical kerfs are formed either by moving the ice vertically while the saws rotate about a fixed axis, or by mounting the saws on a carriage which 'rcciprocates vertically While the block of ice remains stationary. In the latter case, if the block rests on the floor, it is necessary to cut recesses or slots in the floor to permit the saws to descend far enough to cut the kerfs to the lower edge of the block. This is objectionable for various reasons. Ac cording to the present invention, however, the block of ice is raised, while the saws,- at the same time, descend, and the ice cage and saw frame are so connected and arranged that the weight of one serves as a counter-- balance to the weight of the other,thus.con serving power, as Well as obviating the very objectionable feature of cutting the floor.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the same in its preferred form.

In the drawings: r 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1. V

Figure 4 'is an end elevation.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the detailed construction of the machine, the same comprises a stationary frame, secured to a'fioor or platform, and including upright posts l, connected by horizontal beams 2, and Within this main frame is a supplemental frame or am car riage, having longitudinal beams 3 connected by transverse beams 4:, and vertical hanger bearings 8 at their lower endsin which arbors 9 are journaled, the latter. having series of sawslO secured thereto for cutting the vertical kerfs on opposite faces of the block of ice. i if The main power shaft 11 is suitably mounted in bearings 12 secured to the up per part of the main frame, and is driven from any suitable source of power through the medium of a'motor 13, or its equivalent. The power shaft 11 is connected by a belt 14, or other similar means to a countershaft 1.5 suitably mounted on the main frame, and having beveled gears 16 operatively connected with beveled gears 17 at the upper ends of vertical shafts 18 located near one end of the machine. The shafts 18 have a driving connection with the arbors 9, which 7 will permit the saw frame to be raised and lowered while the saws are being operated.

This connection preferably consists of intermeshing worm gears 19 and 20 secured respectively to the shafts 18, andvthe eX- tended end portions of the arbors 9. 5 Horizontal saws 21 may also be secured to the shafts 18 at a proper height to cut the longitudinal kerfs in the block of ice as the latter leaves the machine. 1

The shaft 15 also has a spur gear 22 secured thereto, which meshes with a spur gear 28 secured to a transverse shaft 24, and the latter has a sprocket wheel. 25 secured to its rear end and connected by a sprocket chain 26 to a sprocket wheel 27 secured to a transverse shaft 28 journaled inthe upper part of the main frame, substantially midway between its ends. A beveled gear 29 is secured to the shaft 28 near one end thereof, and meshes with a beveled gear 30 loosely mounted on a short longitudinal shaft 31, whichis journaled near. -one side of the frame. Y A clutch member 32 is keyed to the shaft 31 and normally urged by anexpansile coiledspring 33 into engagement with the beveled gear 30, which is adapted'to be constantly driven, The shaft 31 has beveled gears 34 secured to its ends, andmeshing with beveled gears 35 secured on shafts 36, which .iOurnaled transverse- (if-the main trains. Each of the shafts 38 ha-s-a-spur-gear'- 37 securedthereto mid Way of its ends, which meshes with a vertically disposed rack 38 sec-ured to a vertical bar 39, which forms a part of the vertically reciprocating frame or saw carriage. Cords or cables 40 are secured at one end to the horizontal beams 3 ot'the reciprocating carriage and pass over sheaves il loosely niiountedon; the shafts 36, and are connected at their other endsto'eyes secured tothe upper side of acagelS, which is adapted to receive a block of ice 4%. Suitable guides may be provided for guiding the cage 43 vertically-,and whenthe clutch 32 is engaged, the shafts 36 will be driven to lower the racks 38 and the saws 1O, while at the same time, through the medium of the cables t0, the cage 43' and block of ice it are raised to cut the vertical kerfs 46.

The position ofthe clutch 32 is controlled by means of a forked lever 47, which is pivotally connected at 48 to an arm 49, the other end of which is pivoted at 50 to the main frame. A roller 51 is mounted. on the pivot 48, and as the saw carriage dos; nds and the'cage 43 rises, the latter engages the roller 51; The two arms at? and form, in ellect a toggle, which is spread when: the cage43 engages the roller 51, and this disengagesthe clutch and allows the cage 43 and blhclt of ice 44 to drop. It is to be understoodth'at the weight of the blocl: otice is sufficient to more-than balance the weight of the saw carriage, and, if desired, a suitable checl: may be provided to prevent a too rapid descent of the ice cage. A rod is pivoted atone end to the lever 411T, and ere tends forwardly through a slot in the saw frame, and is provided with a detent 54, which locks the clutch 32 out of engagement until manually released.

After the kerfs 46 have been cut, and the cage 43, containing the block of ice, again rests upon the floor, a pusher carried by a sprocket chain 56 is adapted to engage the end ot the block and discharge it from the machine. The chain 56 is mounted on sprocket wheels 57 and 58 secured to vertical shafts 59 and 60 respectively, the shaft GO being extended upwardly and provided at its upper end with a beveled gear 61. which is driven by a beveled gear 5 secured to the transverse shaft 24. The 1 tin of the gearing is such that there is plenty of time for the reciprocation of the carriage 43 he- 't'ore the pusher reaches a position to engage the ice.

In the operation of themachine, the blocl; of ice is introduced into the cage 43 from the right handend of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1. hen the block of ice has been placed in proper position, the latch rod 52 is manually released to throw the clutch 32 into engagement, whereby the shafts 36 are driven to positively lower the saw carriage,

at the same time raising the cage l3 carrying the block oi ice. the block of ice were to remain upon the floor while the saws 10. were lowererd, it would, of court be necessary to cut slots in the lioor to per the kert ac to be cut entirely across the 7 of the block. This would be a very ob tionable feature, especially when the floor is made of concrete. By the present arrange ment, however, the block or ice ist travels the same distance as the saw carriage, and as the cage e3 comes in contact with the roller 51, the clutch is autoimitically disconnected and the block of: ice descends by gravity to the floor. By observing the position of the pusher 55, the operator may pla 'e thebloclc of ice in the cage and release the latch rod in time for the upward and downward movement of the cageto be completed before the bl'oclt' of ice is engaged by the pusher 55 and discharged from the machine. As the block of ice is discharged, it is scored longitudinally by the saw The weight of the cage is sutiicicnt to in int-ain the saw carriage raised until the latch rod 52 is manually released to throw the clutch 32 again into engagement.

While I have shown and described the various parts of the machine in considerable detail, it is to be understood that this is only for the purpose of illustrating one form in which the invention may be embodied. It is quite obvious that many modifications may be made in the arrangement of the gearing and in other parts of the machine without departing materially from the salient features ot the invention. it is my purpose, therefore, to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of a saw carriage with saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, and means for moving the carriage and cage simultaneously in opposite directions to cause the saws to score a block oi. ice carried in said cage.

2. In a machine forscoring ice, the combination of a saw carriage having vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, and means for simultaneously moving said car and cage vertically in opposite directions bring the saws into operative relation to a block of ice carried by said cag 3. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of a saw carriage having vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, and means for positively moving the carriage downwardly in a vertical direction and at the same time lifting the cage with a block of: ice therein;

4:. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of a saw carriage having longifit) continuously during their vertical movement.

5. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of'a saw carriage having vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, gearing operable to positively move the carriage downwardly. in a vertical direction, at the same time lifting the cage with a. block of icetherein, a clutch controlling the operation of said gear-in and means for automatically disconnecting the clutch when the carriage completes its downward movement.

6. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of a saw carriage guided for'vertical movement, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice and also guided for vertical movement, gearing for positively moving the carriage downwardly and at the same time lifting the cage with a block of ice therein, a clutch controlling the operation of said gearing, spring means normally holding the clutch in engagement, means engageable by the ascending cage for automatically disconnecting the clutch when the cage completes its upward movement, and a latch operable to lock the clutch out of engagement until said latch is manually released.

7. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination of a stationary main frame, a saw carriage guided for vertical movement therein, a cage guided for vertical movement and adapted to receive a block of ice, gearing for positively moving the carriage downwardly and at the same time lifting the cage, a clutch controlling the operation of said gearing, and a toggle having one arm pivoted to the frame of the saw carriage and the other arm engaging said clutch, the cage as it ascends being eugageable with the toggle to spread the same and automatically disengage said clutch.

8. In a machine for scoring ice, the com bination of a stationary main frame, a saw carria guided. for vertical movement therein, a adapted to receive a block of ice, said cage being also guided for vertical movement, sheaves rotatably supported by the main frame, cables trained over the sheaves and each secured at one end to the frame of the saw carriage and at the other end to the cage, gearing for positively moving the carriage downwardly and at the same time lifting the cage, and means for automatically disconnecting said gearing, the weight of said cage and the block of ice being sufiicient to overbalance the weight of the saw carriage and return the latter to its uppermost position.

9: Ina machine-for scoringv ice,- thecom: bination ofasaw; carriageihavingi vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a. cage adapted to-receive a block of; ice, means forv positively moving'the carriage downwardly and at thesame timelifting the cage with... a block of; ic-etherein, means for returning the saw carriage while the ice cage moves. downwardly, a-pusher engageable with the block of ice to dischargeit from the cage after the latterdescends, andv means for sccringthe block longitudinally during. its discharge.

10. In amachine for scoring ice, the combination of a stationary main frame, a saw carriage and an ice cage mounted for vertical movement therein, sheaves rotatably supported by the main. frame and having cables trained over them with their ends connected to the saw carriage and ice. cage respectively, whereby the carriage and, cage move ,in opposite directions, gearing for positively moving the carriage downwardly to lift the cage with a block of ice therein, a clutch controlling the operation of said gearing, means for automatically disconnecting the clutch at thecompletion of the downward movement of said carriage thus permitting the latter to be raised by the weight of the ice, a pusher engageablewith the block of ice to discharge it from the cage after the latter descends, and means for scoring the block longitudinally during its dis charge.

11. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination with a series of saws, means for supporting the same for rectilinear vertical movement, means for supporting a block of ice for vertical movement, and unitary means'for moving the ice supporting means and the saws-supporting means simultaneously to carry the ice toward and from the saws.

12. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination with a series of saws, means for supportingthe saws for bodily rectilinear movement, means for supporting a block of ice, and unitary means for simultaneously moving the ice-supporting means and the supporting means for the saws in predetermined relation to each other to carry the ice toward and from the saws.

13. In a machine for scoring ice, the com" bination with a series of saws, means for supporting the saws for bodily movement, means for supporting a block'of ice, and means for simultaneously moving the ice supporting means and the supporting means for the saws to carry the ice toward and from the saws, said saws-supporting means and the ice supporting means being connected together so that the weight of one serves as a counterbalance to the Weight of the other.

14. In a machine for scoring ice, the combination with a series of saws, means for their IDOI QIHQDlZ.

15. In a machine for scoring ice, the com bination with a series of saws, means for supporting the same for hodily movement, means for rotating the saws continuously during their movement, means for supporting a block of ice, and means for connecting the ice'snpporting means and the supporting means for the saws so that the weight of one serves as a counter-balance to the weight of the other.

16. In a. machine for scoring ice, the comhination ot a saw carriage having vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, and means for moving the carriage downwardly and at the same time lifting the cage with a block of ice thereon, the ice cage and saw carriage being so connected that the weight of the cage with the block of ice thereon is sntlieient to overhalance the weight of the saw carriage and return the latter to its normal position.

17. In a machine for scoring ice, the com bination of a saw carriage, and vertically disposed saws mounted therein, a cage adapted to receive a block of ice, means for moving the carriage downwardly and at the same time lifting the cage with a block of ice therein, means for returning the saw carriage while the ice cage moves down wardly, means engageahle with a block of ice to discharge it from the cage after the latter descends, and means for scoring the ice longitudinally during its passage from the cage.

In testimony. that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

R. H. ROARK. 

